Nonresealable container



June 11, 1935. sTEWART 2,004,512

NONRESEALABLE CONTAINER Filed Feb. 27, 193,

7/044444 K, z kq lzv VENTORY A' TTORNE Y:

Patented June 11, 1935 of one-third to Lewis Calif.

D. Ceilings, Los Angeles,

Application February 27, 1934, Serial No. 713,111

3 Claims.

In the marketing of liquors, drugs, foods, cosmetics and other goods which are usually sold in glass containers, many devices have been utilized to prevent the withdrawal of the genuine contents and the substitution of inferior grades. Such devices usually consist of various forms of caps which carry the trade-mark or other insignia designed to attest the genuineness of the contents. Such caps were usually placed over the top or neck of the container and spun or crimped over an annular rib moulded around the neck of the container. This system was easily ,counterfeited, as all that was necessary was to open the container, change the contents and re-seal with a new cap which was a facsimile of the original. Another method was to insert through the cork a hollow needle such asa hypodermic needle and withdraw a part or all of the contents, then replace with other liquid through the same needle.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a means for such sealing, which when once broken, prevents the re-sealing of the container with a cap or seal of any kind. The seal used in my invention is so designed that it must be broken to open the container, and a new seal cannot be applied without breaking the container. Further, the use of a metallic cap or cage prevents the use of a hollow needle.

I accomplish these purposes by means of the device shown in the accompanying drawing, in which similar numbers refer to similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container of the bottle type, showing the seal in its locked position. Figure 2 is an edge View of the same. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line X--X of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side elevation of a container of the cosmetic or fruit-jar type, also showing a plurality of the glass lugs. Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line Y--Y of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detailed view of the cap and tie-members as formed before bending. Figure 7 is a detailed view of the clamp members as formed before bending. Figure 8 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the device in which the clamp is eliminated. Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 8.

The construction of my device is as follows: Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, and 3, showing the bottle type of glass container, 28 is the bottle having a neck 2|, provided with an annular rib 22 and a lug 23; both the rib and the lug being molded integrally with the glass container. The lug. 23 also has integrally molded thereto two trunnions 24, the said trunnions being shown bydotted lines. If desired a plurality of such lugs and trunnions can be disposed around the neck 24. A metallic cage is provided consisting of a cap 25, of a shape adapted to conform to the shape of the neck 2i', and for the purpose of covering the neck 2i 1 and the cork 26. The cap and cage is preferably of metal to prevent the insertion of a hollow needle. Attached to or integral with the cap 25 are the tie-members 27, extending downwardly approximately parallel to the neck 2! Adapted to be folded around thesaid neck 2| is the clamp 28. The tie-members 27 may be formed integrally with the clamp 23, or they may be permanently secured to the same by electric welding, soldering, or by other suitable means. The ends of the clamp- 28 are in the form of ears 29, with holes 36 adapted to engage the trunnions 24 on each side of the lug 23. The tiemembers 2? are also provided with notches 32 which so weaken the strength of the said'tiemembers that they can be readily broken when it is desired to break the seal. This weakening can also be accomplished by punching a hole in the tie-members, as shown in Figure 4 the said hole having a diameter slightly less than the width of the tie-member. I

In the modified form shown in Figures 4 and This method can be used either with or without a cork.

In the alternative form of my device shown in Figures 8 and 9 the clamp 28 is eliminated. In this design the tie-members 35 have their lower ends reduced in width forming a wire 36 adapted to be passed through holes in the lugs 37. The lugs 31 are molded integral with the container. After insertion through the holes in the lugs 31 the lower ends of the wires are bent over as at 38. Heat is then applied to the lugs, melting the glass and thus permanently securing the wires 36 and the cage in position.

The operation of my device is as follows: In the types shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the cap, tie-members and clamp member or members are assembled and taken together constitute a cage. After the container is filled and corked the cage is placed in position over the top of the container, the clamps 28 sprung around the neck 2!, and the ears 29 placed adjacent to the lugs 23, with the trunnions 24 protruding through the holes 3a. Heat is then applied to the ends of the trunnions, melting the glass and forming a button or rivet-head, thus permanently securing the cage to the container. To open the container the seal is broken by inserting a knife or other suitable instrument between the neck and the tie-members at a point near the notches 32and by a quick pry breaking the tie-members, disengaging the cap. The container cannot be resealed by any other method except by melting the lugs, and there is no known method by which sufiicient heat could be applied to do this without breaking the container. Even if the lug could be melted it would result in disfiguring and discoloring the lug making it obvious that it had been tampered with. I

In the type shown in Figures 8 and 9 the cap and tie-members are placed over the top of the container and the wire ends of the tie members threaded through the holes in the lugs, the ends bent over and fused to the lugs by heat.

Various modifications can be made in my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, such as making the cap in the form of a crimped or compressioncap similar to that used on beverage bottles. The lugs 31 could be slotted instead of having holes for the wire ends, in which case the two sides of the lug would be fused together permanently securing the wire ends.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A non-resealable glass container having a lug or lugs integrally molded thereon, trunnions molded on said lug or lugs, a metallic cage adapted to cover the top of the said container, said cage having breakable metallic elements assembled over and inseparably secured to said lug or lugs by means of glass rivet heads integral with said lugs.

2. Ina non-resealable glass container the combination of a metallic cap adapted to cover the top of the said container, a clamp member positioned adjacent to the neck of the said container, breakable elements connecting said cap with said clamp member, a lug and trunnions integrally molded on said container adapted to receive thev ends of said clamp member, and means for preventing the removal and replacement of said clamp member, said means consisting of glass rivet heads over said clamp member ends integral with said lugs.

3. In a non-resealable glass container the combination of a metallic cap adapted to cover the top of the said container, a plurality of clamp members :positioned'adjacent to the neck of the said container, breakable elements con necting said cap with the said clamp members, lugs'ancl trunnions integrally molded on said container adapted to receive the ends of the said clamp members, andmeans forpreventing the removal and replacement of the said clamp members, said means consisting of glass rivet heads over said clamp members ends and integral with said lugs.

HOWARD R. STEWART. 

